Vocational schools are concentrated on training an individual in a specific skill. They offer physical and hands-on-oriented programs.
The objective of such a degree is to make the student learn through physical work. The experience gained during this program makes the student a skilled laborer in the specific field upon graduation.
The duration of vocational programs is shorter than traditional studies. They are also known as trade schools. Traditional colleges or universities offer 4 or 5-year bachelor’s programs where individuals are taught various subjects to help them learn about different aspects of a field, especially through theoretical bases.
By the end of 2022, China had the world’s largest vocational education system, including 11,300 schools, enrolling 30.88 million students, and graduating 10 million students per year. The country had a GDP of 18.32 trillion US dollars in 2022, ranking it as the second-largest in the world.
China currently has the second-largest population in the world, and vocational schools enable the country to have skilled laborers with a large workforce.
For economies like Pakistan, vocational schools can have significant impacts in industrial zones. Such schools provide skills and create productive human resources.
Similarly, productivity can be increased if the labor force is equipped with skills. However, in our country, there is more focus on the traditional educational system, which is not productive, especially in Pakistan.
Theory-based learning and memorized text, solely for the sake of marks and grades, create memorization machines and yield no productive results.
It is harsh to say, but universities in our country are investments without any productive outcomes, and this is evidently true.
Taking the case of library science, it is worth considering that an individual is taught for 4 years to prepare them for the work of a librarian, which can be learned in just a few months of training. Sadly, it appears to be a waste of time.
Departments are established, faculties are hired, a significant amount is spent on salaries for professors and lecturers, and in return, they provide individuals with mere definitions and theories. This is just one example, but if most departments in a traditional education system are evaluated, the outcome is a degree holder without any physical skills.
Pakistan has a population of 64 percent below the age of 30, according to a report by NHDR (National Human Development Report). Yet, vocational schools in Pakistan are significantly few in number.
The country has a total of 3,634 TVET (Technical and Vocational Education Training) institutes. Nevertheless, Pakistan can utilize its young population in a much more productive way with the help of vocational schools.
On the other hand, vocational schools can reduce the unemployment rate. Individuals with skills can start their own small businesses.
In the contemporary structure of business, online trading has brought about great changes. Skill-equipped people can easily utilize online platforms and start trading.
China manufactures almost everything that exists in other parts of the world. Unfortunately, here we are completely dependent on international markets and companies.
Even small products like pens are imported from other countries.
In the fiscal year 2020-2021, Pakistan’s exports were recorded at 25.304 billion, while imports were 56.380 billion. This huge trade deficit is simply due to low productivity.
The country’s industrial sector is significantly weaker compared to the rest of the world. Innovation seems unlikely here, so it is better to set that aside for now.
If focused, nurtured, and developed, vocational schools can bring about a positive change in the industrial sector.
By: Jahangir Jameel (Writer is a Student of MBE at BZU)